A festival near Stroud has been cancelled after a worker at the site died following an accident involving a forklift truck.

The 33-year-old man was setting up the Surround Festival at Sallywood Farm, Horsley yesterday.

“It is with great sadness that we have to announce Surround Festival 2014 will be cancelled,” the organisers said in a statement.

“This morning on site there was a tragic incident and this has resulted in one of the team members we were working alongside passing away.

“The incident involved someone highly experienced in their role, operating equipment they were fully trained to use. It was an exceptionally unfortunate accident.

“Our thoughts are with their friends and family at this difficult time, and we are working closely with local authorities.

“We understand that this is deeply disappointing to everybody expecting to come, as it is for us. “We fully intend to make refunds to all ticket holders and are working very hard to get our refund procedure in place.

“We hope you understand if there is a delay in responding to communications, it has been a difficult time and we are doing everything we can.

“Full details regarding the refund procedure will be announced as soon as possible.”

The festival was due to be held tomorrow and in to the early hours of Sunday.

Gloucestershire Police were called to Sallywood Farm, Horsley at noon yesterday with other emergency services.

A force spokesman said because it appeared to be an industrial accident, Stroud District Council is investigating.

“Police, fire and rescue and ambulance were called to Sallywood Farm, Horsley near Nailsworth just before midday to an incident involving a fork-lift truck which had resulted in the death of a thirty-three year old man working at the location in preparation of a music event,” he said.

“The incident is being treated as an industrial accident and investigated jointly by police, Stroud District Council and Health & Safety Executive.”

A spokesman for Stroud District Council said: "As this incident relates to an entertainment event it falls under the council’s jurisdiction to investigate.

"We are also working closely with our counterparts at the Health and Safety Executive, who are providing us with technical input to aid our investigation."